MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine president asked Congress on Monday to pass a troubled Muslim autonomy bill at the heart of efforts to end a bloody rebellion in the country's south and legislation that aims to lessen the stranglehold on power of entrenched political families, which include his.

MANILA, Philippines - A politically influential and secretive Christian church involved in a legal dispute with American R&B singer Chris Brown has been caught in a rising tide of its own troubles, including allegations of abductions and misuse of funds.

MANILA, Philippines - Andal Ampatuan Sr., a former Philippine governor and one of the main suspects accused of ordering the killings of 58 people in the Philippines' worst massacre, has died of a heart attack in a government hospital, his lawyer said Saturday.